Vintage Linen → Sherwin Williams
The closest Sherwin Williams matches for Behr Vintage Linen (PPU7-17), ranked by perceptual color distance.
Finding a Sherwin Williams Equivalent for Vintage Linen
If you love Behr Vintage Linen but need a Sherwin Williams alternative, you are not alone. This is one of the most common cross-brand paint matching searches, whether you are working with a painter who prefers Sherwin Williams, your local store does not carry Behr, or you simply want to compare prices across brands before committing.
Vintage Linen (PPU7-17) is a light cream with warm vintage cream undertones. A warm cream with an aged, vintage quality. Softer and more muted than Swiss Coffee, with a linen-like warmth that feels lived-in and comfortable. To find a good Sherwin Williams match, we need a color that captures not just the right depth (LRV 75) but also that specific undertone character. That is where Delta E color science comes in.
We calculated the perceptual color distance between Vintage Linen and every Sherwin Williams color using the CIE2000 Delta E formula, which measures how different two colors look to the human eye. A Delta E under 2 means most people cannot tell the colors apart. Between 2 and 4, you might notice a difference in certain lighting. Above 5, the difference is clearly visible side by side.
The results are decent but not perfect. The closest Sherwin Williams option is Alabaster Alt (SW 9109) with a Delta E of 3.4, which is a "good match" level match. Natural Linen is close. Both are warm, linen-toned off-whites. You will want to test a sample before committing, as the difference may be noticeable in certain lighting.
Sherwin Williams Matches for Vintage Linen
Natural Linen is close. Both are warm, linen-toned off-whites.
| Vintage Linen | Alabaster Alt | |
|---|---|---|
| LRV | 75 | 73 |
| Hex | #E4DED2 | #DED8CD |
| Undertone | Warm Vintage Cream | Warm Linen |
| Family | Cream | Off-White |
Undertone Comparison
Vintage Linen has warm vintage cream undertones. A warm cream with an aged, vintage quality. Softer and more muted than Swiss Coffee, with a linen-like warmth that feels lived-in and comfortable.
Alabaster Alt has warm linen undertones. A warm, linen-toned off-white. More body than Alabaster, less depth than Agreeable Gray. The warm, natural tone of unbleached linen fabric.
The undertone difference is worth paying attention to. While they are close in overall appearance, the different undertones mean they may diverge in certain lighting. Vintage Linen's warm vintage cream quality may read differently than Alabaster Alt's warm linen character, especially in rooms with strong directional light or colored accents that could pull out one undertone more than the other. Test a sample in your specific room before committing.
How These Colors Behave in Different Lighting
Vintage Linen in Your Room
Warm and inviting with a gentle, aged quality. In bright rooms, reads as a rich warm off-white. In dim rooms, the cream provides gentle enveloping warmth.
Alabaster Alt in Your Room
Warm and natural. Reads as a warm off-white with visible beige warmth. Cozy and organic.
LRV and Brightness
Vintage Linen has an LRV of 75, while Alabaster Alt has an LRV of 73. These two colors reflect a very similar amount of light, so you should not notice a significant difference in room brightness when switching between them. The room will feel approximately the same in terms of light and space, which makes this a smoother transition.
Best Rooms for Vintage Linen
Behr recommends Vintage Linen for: whole house, living room, bedroom, hallway, dining room. With an LRV of 75, this is a light color that reflects a lot of light and works well in any room, including smaller spaces where you want to maintain a bright, open feel. It is light enough for whole-house use without making rooms feel washed out or sterile.
Alabaster Alt is recommended for: whole house, bedroom, living room, hallway, bathroom. Both colors are recommended for similar applications, which confirms that this is a practical cross-brand match. You can use Alabaster Alt in the same rooms you planned for Vintage Linen.
Vintage Linen in Other Brands
Looking for Vintage Linen equivalents in other brands besides Sherwin Williams? We have matches across all major paint brands.
Frequently Asked Questions
The closest Sherwin Williams match for Vintage Linen (PPU7-17) is Alabaster Alt (SW 9109) with a Delta E of 3.4, which rates as a "good match" match. Natural Linen is close. Both are warm, linen-toned off-whites. Delta E measures perceptual color distance on a scale where under 2 means nearly identical, 2 to 4 means close with subtle differences, and over 5 means clearly noticeable.
No, they are not identical. Vintage Linen is a Behr color with warm vintage cream undertones and an LRV of 75. Alabaster Alt is a Sherwin Williams color with warm linen undertones and an LRV of 73. With a Delta E of 3.4, the difference is subtle and mainly visible in direct side-by-side comparison. Paint formulations differ between brands, so even colors with similar values can look slightly different due to pigment concentration, binders, and finish.
With a Delta E of 3.4, the difference is enough that they should not be used on adjacent walls in the same room. You can use them in separate rooms of the same house, but be aware that walking from one room to the other may reveal the difference, especially if the rooms have similar lighting. For the most consistent look, pick one brand for all connected living spaces and reserve the other brand for visually separate rooms like bathrooms or bedrooms behind closed doors.
There are several practical reasons to look for a Sherwin Williams equivalent. Price differences between brands can be significant on large projects. Availability matters if your nearest paint store or home center specializes in Sherwin Williams. Some painters have strong preferences for one brand's formula based on coverage, dry time, or workability. And if you are touching up existing Sherwin Williams work, matching within the same brand gives you the best consistency for seamless results.
Match calculations use Delta E (CIE2000) computed from Lab color space conversion. Color data sourced from manufacturer specifications. Last reviewed: March 22, 2026.